Nim’s Fruit Crisps Ltd was originally launched in 2012 by single mother, Nimisha Raja, after she was running a café opposite a school and noticed the pupils’ tendency to choose unhealthy snacks.

Nimisha used her own funds for product development and outsourced manufacturing to a company in Eastern Europe, where she decided to test the products before launching in the UK.

Following the popularity of Nim’s Fruit Crisps in Eastern Europe, Nimisha felt it was the ideal time to set up operations in the UK.

She switched her banking facilities to Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, and the local team provided a working capital facility to enable her to purchase high volumes of stock and employ several new members of staff .

Nim’s Fruit Crisps uses bespoke machinery and a unique air drying process to transform fruit into healthy crisps, which it then supplies to wholesalers and retailers in the UK, as well as exporting to Belgium and Italy.

The business now has manufacturing facilities in Sittingbourne and, following the funding support from Lloyds Bank, it has secured listings with Amazon and attracted early-stage interest from several other major retailers including Holland & Barrett and Ocado. The business was also named Best Local Producer at the 2016 Kent Muddy Stiletto Awards, which recognises some of the best independent local businesses.

Nimisha now plans to put the funding to additional use by targeting new markets in the US and Australia, as well as expanding the Nim’s Fruit Crisps product line. Nimisha Raja, Managing Director of Nim’s Fruit Crisps, said: “Setting up the company on my own was a big challenge and it made sense for me to start small, but launching in the UK was always my aim.

“Access to finance proved to be a stumbling block, but when I was put in touch with Lloyds Bank the team understood my business objectives from the outset, and the funding support was instrumental in allowing me to get my venture off the ground in the UK.

“The health food market has soared in recent years and it’s more important than ever that we’re able to maintain a competitive edge. I look forward to continuing to grow the business both in the UK and overseas and developing new products for our growing customer base.” Mark Darby, manufacturing relationship manager at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking in Kent, said: “Nim’s Fruit Crisps is an innovative and forward-thinking manufacturing business and it was obvious that Nimisha had a clear strategy in place for the expansion into the UK.

“It’s great to witness the business already going from strength to strength since launching here, and encouraging to see that Nimisha has so many exciting plans moving forwards.

“We are committed to supporting manufacturing businesses and this is why we have pledged to increase the amount of new funding support provided to UK manufacturing businesses by £1billion in 2016.”